America's North Shore Journal

Pvt. Courtney Nelson and Pfc. Tiana Carroll, food specialists at Talon Cafe, prepare meat for the next meal. Carroll, who didn't even know how to cook when she joined the Army, recently won runner-up in the private through specialist category at the USAG-Humphreys' 2nd Quarter Board for Culinary Arts. Photo by Pfc. Juho Ma

“It’s a great honor,” said Pvt. 1st Class Tiana Carroll with Headquarters Support Company, 602nd Aviation Support Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, when she was asked about her winning the award.

Carroll, a food specialist working at Talon Café, was a runner-up in the private through specialist category, in the U.S. Army Garrison-Humphreys’ 2nd Quarter Culinary Arts Board.

“It was so quiet and I was a bit scared,” said Carroll. “But I tried to concentrate and I thought about my drill sergeant who always motivated me. It helped me a lot.”

Carroll, a native of Washington D.C., was not an expert cook when she decided to join the Army. In fact she says, “I didn’t even know how to cook, but I wanted to build structure in my life, with a job to be proud of. And I’ve learned a lot from this job.”

Camp Humphreys is her first duty stationed. She has been here for about seven months as a food specialist working at the dining facility.

“We come to work at four or five in the morning everyday to have meals ready. I’ve never worked this much before joining the Army, but even though this job is hard I think it is helping me to build my career,” said the 21-year old.

Learning how to cook and getting used to long hours of working are not the only accomplishments Carroll has made in a short period of time. She was also the runner-up in the USAG-Humphreys’ Chef of Quarter Board.

“I learned a lot of things while studying for the board, things that I couldn’t learn from my regular job,” said Carroll. “Some Soldiers may find the board a bit boring and complicated, but knowledge helps you to be a better Soldier. And at some point, when you get in a leader’s position, it will help you to teach others, too.”

“She is very unique and fun,” said Pvt. Courtney Nelson, a food specialist who works with Carroll at Talon Café. “I’ve known her since AIT, and she’s always been a very hard worker.”

She is also planning to enroll in college courses and study as much as she can.

“I want to learn many other things in the Army beside my job,” Carroll said. “I think education is one of the best opportunities you can get from the Army. You should take full advantage of it.”

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Story by Pfc. Juho Ma